The Kansas Meadowlark

July 22, 2007
(revised Aug 5, 2007)

Case Study of State Rep Gene Rardin's Election:
The Kansas Democratic Party's Method of Buying a State Representative
Via Their Kansas Coordinated Campaign

Did the Kansas Democratic Party have anything to do with 
the "negative" mailings by ProKanDo-related non-profit, Progress Kansas?
Sept 11, 2007 Update:  The IRS in Dallas was asked why the Progress Kansas "not-profit" had not filed an IRS8871 or an IRS990.  The IRS' response ignores the question:  "We cannot disclose what action, if any, the IRS has taken or may take with respect to the information you have provided us."  

Democrat Gene Rardin was elected State Representative from District 16 by two votes last November.  Rardin did little to campaign and his win can be credited to the Kansas Coordinated Campaign run by the Kansas Democratic Party.  

Rardin simply wrote two checks that totaled $7,500 to the Kansas Coordinated Campaign, and voters in District 16 received seven mailings from the Kansas Democratic Party telling them Rardin was the better candidate. 

Where's the proof the "Kansas Coordinated Campaign" is another name for the "Kansas Democratic Party"?  The report filed by the Kansas Democratic Party shows this Rardin "contribution" as "Payment for Campaign Services."

The Kansas Coordinated Campaign is a "store" run within the Democratic Party for "campaign services," which  helps the Democrats hide what's going on with some of their money transfers.  For example, many reading candidate reports are not aware that "Kansas Coordinated Campaign" is simply the "Kansas Democratic Party."  The Kansas Coordinated Campaign lets the Democrats plan, coordinate, and target multiple races at once.

Getting back to the Rardin mailings, the Democrats even used Republican President Eisenhower (see Mailing "B" below) as a Democratic Party image to sell Democrat Rardin!  As part of their "Coordinated Campaign" eight pictures of Kathleen Sebelius appeared on the seven mailings as part of her gubernatorial campaign mixed into Rardin's campaign for State Rep.  There were no "in kind" contributions between campaigns since the Kansas Democratic Party was doing everything for both candidates in these mailings via their "Coordinated Campaign."  Why were all SEVEN mailings from the Kansas Democratic Party "positive" messages for Gene Rardin?

A non-profit group, Progress Kansas, with ties to George Tiller's ProKanDo PAC, sent three negative mailings against Republican John Dennis Kriegshauser, who had knocked off incumbent Republican Jim Yonally in the August 2006 primary election.  While this group's pieces were supposedly "educational only" since they supposedly did not expressly call for voting for or against anyone, all three Progress Kansas pieces were intended to show Kriegshauser in negative light.  (The ProKanDo PAC used a separate but related  non-profit, Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection, to send out six "educational" Snoop Dogs against Phill Kline in the Attorney General's race.)  Why were all THREE mailings from the non-profit Progress Kansas "negative" messages against Dennis Kriegshauser?

There is some circumstantial evidence that the Kansas Democratic Party and ProKanDo's Progress Kansas non-profit may have coordinated their efforts to elect pro-choice State Rep candidates they supported (such as Gene Rardin) and knock out pro-life candidates they opposed (such as Dennis Kriegshauser).  What are the odds that by chance one group only used "positive" messages, and the other group only used "negative" messages?  Or was this part of a common plan?

Perhaps it's not surprising that the "positive" mailings and the "negative" mailings were both printed by Democratic-leaning union printers. BUT, what are the odds that by chance that both the "positive" messages from the Kansas Democratic Party and the "negative" messages from the ProKanDo-related non-profit, Progress Kansas, would be mailed by the same mailing house, DM Mailing Services, in Edmond, Oklahoma?  And, why isn't a Kansas mailing house good enough for these groups?

Why the chicanery by ProKanDo and Democrats via an Oklahoma mailing house?  In a June 23, 2007 Topeka Capital-Journal article (which was mostly about how the other ProKanDo-related non-profit may have helped Morrison defeat Kline for the Attorney General) ProKanDo's Executive Burkhart explained:  "We live in a state and we live in a time where, unfortunately, it is not OK to be so out front if you're pro-choice and for women's rights".  

While this article concentrated on Gene Rardin's contest with Dennis Kriegshauser, similar tactics were used by the Democrats and Progress Kansas in several other State Rep races using the Kansas Coordinated Campaign for a positive message, and the non-profit Progress Kansas for a negative message.  See many details below. 

Outline of Details

Summary of Rardin's Major Expenditures to be elected State Rep by Two Votes

Mailings by Kansas Coordinated Campaign (aka KDP) 
on Behalf of Gene Rardin for State Rep 16

  • "Inside" and "Outside" of seven mailings

  • Paid for by:  Kansas Democratic Party, Topeka, KS

  • Postage Mark:  DM Mailing Services, Edmond, OK

  • Union Label:  Vicks Lithograph and Printing Corp, Yorkville, NY

Rardin's Political Contributions and Expenditures Summary by Reporting Period

Mailings by Progress Kansas (a "non-profit") against Dennis Kriegshauser for State Rep 16

  • "Front" and "back" of three mailings

  • Return Address:  Progress Kansas, Olathe, KS

  • Postal Mark:  DM Mailing Services, Edmond, OK

  • Union Label:  Snyder's Printing, Oklahoma City, OK

Two Missouri PACs That Contributed to Progress Kansas Non-Profit 

  • Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC

  • Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus PAC

One Kansas PAC That Contributed to Progress Kansas Non-Profit

 

Summary of Rardin's Major Expenditures to be Elected State Rep by Two Votes

Data from KS Gov't Ethics Commission

$200.00 web site Derek Wry
$1,403.53 literature Lee's Printing, KCKS
$986.56 yard signs NeoDems (Milack Talia)
$3043.80 Econo Printing Printing Services
$7500.00 Kansas Coordinated Campaign [aka Kansas Democratic Party]
$13,133.89 Partial Total  (Complete Total was $14,582.72)

 

Mailings by Kansas Coordinated Campaign (aka The Kansas Democratic Party)
On Behalf of Gene Rardin for State Rep 16

Mailing A B C D  
Outside

 
Inside

 
Mailing E F G
Outside

Inside

Paid for by Kansas Democratic Party, Dan Lykins, Treasurer, PO Box 1914, Topeka, KS  66601

 

Postage:  Non-Profit Org., US Postage Paid, DM Mailing Service

When mailed for the Kansas Democratic Party, the postage mark indicates they are a "non-profit organization."

DM Mailing Services apparently is in Edmond, Oklahoma (just north of Oklahoma City).  According to their web site, their postal address is 704 Rim Rock Rd, Edmond, OK  73034.  

What is at this DM Mailing Services address in Edmond, OK?


704 Rim Rock Rd, Edmond, OK

DM Mailing Services, the company mailing Kansas Democratic Party and 
Progress Kansas pieces that affected certain State Rep races in Kansas in 2006
(Pictures courtesy of the Oklahoma Scissor-Tail Flycatcher)

Union Label:  GCIU 49M
According to the search page for Graphic Communications Conference of the Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, the print shop responsible for the KDP Rardin flyers can be found in New York state (enter NY in search engine):

List of Shops Licensed to Use the GCIU Label
Label License # Name Address City, Province State Zip/Postal Code Local #
49 M Vicks Lithograph and Printing Corp 5166 Commercial Dr Yorkville NY 13495 259 M

 

 

A variation of Mailing C above was sent on behalf of Alex Holsinger in State Rep District 20.  That mailing showed union label GCIU 504M, which was used below in the Progress Kansas mailings.  Perhaps other union shops were used for printing the various Kansas Democratic Party mailings. 

Rardin's Political Contributions and Expenditures Summary
by Reporting Period

Data from KS Gov't Ethics Commission

Reporting Period

 Raised Loan to Self Spent InTheBank InKind
7/24/2006 $750.00 $10,000.00 $0.00 $10,750.00 $168.39
10/30/2006 $14,050.00   $13,933.25 $10,866.75  
1/10/2007 $3,854.00   $649.47 $14,071.28  

TOTAL

 $18,654.00 $10,000.00 $14,582.72 $14,071.28  

 

Contribution Summary

$6150 33.0% Labor Union Contributions
$4100 22.0% Liberal Groups and Causes
$2100 11.3% Democratic Party, Democratic Party Groups
$1650 8.8% Latecomers:  Joined the Bandwagon after Election Win
$4545 24.4% 42 Individuals from Kansas
[9 giving $1325 (7.1%) from State Rep District 16, but $900 from single Newman-Hartney household]]
$109 0.6% Miscellaneous
$18,654 100.0% TOTAL

Details

Participated in funneling money to Kansas Democratic Party see this article

Labor Union Contributions
500 Carpenters' District Council of KC and Vicinity, KCMO
500 IBEW Local 53 PAC, KCMO
325 Iron Workers Local No. 10 PAC, KCMO
400 Kansas AFL-CIO - Cope Fund, Topeka
500 Kansas State UAW PAC, KCK
250 KNEA, Topeka
500 KNEA, Topeka
350 Laborers Local Union #1290, KCK
500 NEA Shawnee Mission, Shawnee
500 Operating Engineers Local 1010 PAC, KCMO
350 Pipefitters Local #533 Volunteer Political Fund, KCMO
150 Roofers Local #20 PAC, Raytown, MO
500 Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 2 PAC, KCMO
125 Teamsters Local Union No. 41 PAC, KCMO
400 United Transportation Union PAC, Cleveland, OH
150 United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers PAC, DC
150 United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers PAC, DC
$6150 TOTAL

 

Liberal Groups and Causes
500 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, KCMO
500 Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus PAC
500 Heavy Constructors Association PAC
500 Kansans for Lifesaving Cures, Lawrence
100 Kansas Families United for Public Education PAC
300 Kansas Sierra Club Political Committee, KCK
500 Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Consumer/Civil Justice PAC, Topeka
500 Mainstream PAC, Leawood
200 Phil Ruffin (gambling proponent), Wichita
500 ProKanDo PAC
$4100 TOTAL

 

Democratic Party, Democratic Party Groups
500 Blue Stem Fund, Kathleen Sebelius
1000 JoCo Democratic Central Committee
100 JoCo Democratic Central Committee
150 Kansas 3rd District PAC
100 Kansas Federation of Democratic Women
250 Kansas Federation of Democratic Women
$2100 TOTAL

 

Latecomers:  Joined the Bandwagon after Election Win
250 Homebuilders Association of Greater KC PAC, KCMO
200 Kansas Cable PAC, Wichita
250 Kansas Hospital Association PAC, Topeka
250 Kansas Medical Society PAC, Topeka
300 Kansas Optometrist PAC, Topeka
50 Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers PAC, Topeka
250 KCPL Power PAC, KCMO
100 Stuart Little Government Relations LLC
$1650 TOTAL

 

Individuals
$2065 31 Kansas contributors from outside State Rep District 16
$1325 9 Kansas contributors from State Rep District 16
$325 2 Kansas contributors from unknown State Rep Districts
$730 Out of state ($650 form "Rardin" relatives)
$100 Gene Rardin to self
$4545 TOTAL

 

Rardin's individual contributors are involved in many liberal groups 

Republicans for Moore:  Suzanne Allen , John Alstatt, Albert Brox, Liz Craig, David Dannov, John Guyot, Marilyn Hammond, Wayne Morris, Geoffrey Newman (now a Democrat), Phyllis Steer, Gerard Vanhoet, Bruce Vonbevern

Mainstream Coalition:  Suzanne Allen (hosted Mainstream fundraiser, $200 contributor), John Alstatt ($250), Albert Brox (MAIN*PAC, 2006), Vincent Clark (MAIN*PAC, 2006), Liz Craig (Mainstream Board), Jean Cramer ($150), L. Royceann Mather ($800), Franklin Neff (Mainstream $100), Phyllis Steer (Mainstream $450), Chen Stubblefield (Mainstream $100), Gene Rardin (paid $65 to attend Mainstream Event, Oct 2006)

League of Women Voters:
L. Royceann Mather (LWV President Elect, 2006), Franklin Neff (LWV Board of Directors, 2004-2005)

Kansas Alliance for Education / Kansans United for Public Education: 
Carol Abrahamson (KAE supporter), Suzanne Allen (KFUPE $100), Liz Craig (KFUPE), L. Royceann Mather (KFUPE, $200), Gene Rardin (KFUPE), Lynette Shaw (KFUPE $200)

Planned Parenthood/ProKanDo: 
Suzanne Allen (Planned Parenthood Board of Directors), Jean Cramer (ProKanDo $100), Lynette Shaw (ProKanDo fundraiser underwriter)

Kansas Democratic Party:
Edwin Coleman (JoCo DP District 10 officer;  State Rep 17 candidate, 2006), Sheila Hartney (candidate State Rep 16, 2004; Howard Dean $1000), Julie Merz (Dennis Moore’s campaign manager), Geoffrey Newman ($1250 to Howard Dean; husband of Sheila Hartney), Bill Roy, Jr (JoCO DP Chair), Neil Sader (candidate for OP Mayor 2005; son of Democratic Party activist Carol Sader; contributor along with mom to JoCo “YesYesYes” campaign to hide party affiliation in JoCo contests), Lynette Shaw (former KDP Exec Dir; married to Dennis Langley, former KDP chair, who funnels money to KDP from South Dakota)

Miscellaneous:  L. Royceann Mather was the former treasurer for former State Rep 16, Jim Yonally, a Republican.

Mailings by Progress Kansas (a "non-profit") 
against Dennis Kriegshauser for State Rep 16

 

Mailing A
Front
Back
 

Mailing B
Front
Back
 

Mailing C
Front
Back

Return Address 

There is no "Paid for by" statement since Progress Kansas is claiming non-profit status and these mailings are "educational" pieces instead of political mailings. 

 

Postage:  US Postage Paid, DM Mailing Service

When mailed for the Kansas Democratic Party, the postage mark indicated "non-profit organization" (see above).  When mailed by a Progress Kansas, a Kansas "non-profit" organization, there is no statement about a "non-profit organization."  Why?

 

Union Label:  GCIU 504M

The search page for Graphic Communications Conference of the Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters does not show any union printer with the GCIU code 504-M.  However, Google identifies Snyder's Printing as being in Oklahoma City, which is consistent with the Edmond, OK DM Mailing Service.

Two Missouri PACs That Contributed to Progress Kansas Non-Profit

Data from KS Gov't Ethics Commission

Two Missouri Political Action Committees, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus PAC  knew about Progress Kansas before the election, and contributed money to the message of the Progress Kansas "non-profit," yet the citizens of Kansas will be kept in the dark about the political money spent by this non-profit.  Progress Kansas is unknown to the IRS, and apparently will never file an IRS 990 detailing their "non-profit" expenditures.  A reply from the IRS in June 2007 said they had no record of Progress Kansas.

The second item above, the $5000 payment to Stones' Phones, is interesting since this is the same company used by the ProKanDo PAC for get-out-the-vote phone calls.

One Kansas PAC that Contributed to Progress Kansas Non-Profit

Data from KS Gov't Ethics Commission

The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) PAC was the only group in Kansas that knew about the Progress Kansas before the election.

 

According to the Kansas Secretary of State, the current status of Progress Kansas is "Corporation is Delinquent."  This organization will fade away now that it accomplished its political purpose as a non-profit.

Also see:

"Progress Kansas" a PAC-in-a-Box in Olathe?  A Mysterious "Non-Profit" Postal Box Sending Hit Pieces Against Certain State Rep Candidates, 
Kansas Meadowlark, Nov 3, 2006

Who's behind the "Progress Kansas" Receiving $25,000 from Liberal Missouri Group?
Kansas Meadowlark, Oct 18, 2006

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